Health Minister Greg Hunt adds another three months to border closures.
Australia’s human biosecurity emergency period will now be in place until 17 June 2021, according to an announcement just released by Health Minister Greg Hunt.
The declaration by the Governor General gives the Australian Government the powers to take any necessary measures to continue to prevent and control COVID-19, with Hunt saying the extension is informed by specialist medical and epidemiological advice which is that “the COVID-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia”.
The three month extension, which will take the emergency declaration out to a total of 15 months since the ban was first imposed in March last year, is “about mitigating that risk for everyone’s health and safety,” Hunt said.
Powers currently in place which will be extended due to this announcement include restrictions on the entry of cruise vessels, restrictions on outbound international travel, and pre-departure testing and mask-wearing for international flights.
“These restrictions can be amended or repealed if no longer needed,” Hunt noted, adding that in particular the Government was continuing to work with state and territory agencies, national health committees and the cruise industry “to develop a framework for the staged resumption of cruise ships in a manner that is proportionate to the public health risk”.
More details in tomorrow’s Travel Daily.